Microsoft's vision on NCE:
When Microsoft launched the new commerce experience (NCE) in the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP)
program, the goal was to provide customers with flexible options in how and where they purchase,
while giving partners more opportunities to sell to a growing base of existing and new customers.
The new commerce experience is part of a transformational journey that’s changing the way
customers transact with Microsoft.
It’s a multi-phase, long-term investment in the CSP
program aimed at helping partners accelerate business growth, simplify licensing, and address
how their customers prefer to purchase. NCE aligns the CSP program with other programs, such
as the Enterprise Agreement, so that all customers are subjected to the same terms and conditions
for cloud purchases. NCE is also a crucial enabler of Microsoft's strategy to offer a Per-Seat model
for CSP offerings.
It helps customers transform digitally by making it easier to buy and manage cloud
services through a streamlined purchase experience, including digital customer agreement, consolidated
management portal, enhanced invoicing, and cost-management capabilities.
Major NCE Changes and Features by Microsoft:
Microsoft launched the New Commerce Experience (NCE) for Microsoft Azure in 2019 – and, in the fall of 2021, expanded NCE to include Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Windows 365, and Power Platform for commercial seat-based offers in the CSP program.
Microsoft had started moving away from disparate program-specific offers, including Enterprise Agreement (EA), Select, Open, Web Direct, and CSP, to three new motions:
- Breadth: CSP (cloud service provider)
- Enterprise: EA (enterprise agreement)
- Self-Service: Web Direct (credit card)
Source: Optimizing our purchasing motions for customers and partners - Microsoft Partner Network
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Breadth is the primary purchasing motion for mid-sized and small corporate organizations that typically do not require unique contractual requirements beyond price negotiation. In the breadth motion, partners will manage all aspects of their customers' purchase, deployment, and use of technology across all stages of the customer lifecycle.
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Self-service motion exists across all sizes of customers who know what services they want to buy. As a CSP, partners will provide customers with the services and solutions they need to succeed in the enterprise and self-service motion.
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Enterprise motion is the primary purchasing motion for partners’ largest Enterprise customers. It generally requires a high level of Microsoft involvement to support the complex terms needed for these digital transformation deals.
Source: Optimizing our purchasing motions for customers and partners - Microsoft Partner Network
New Commerce Experience Subscriptions Terms and Billing Plans:
Most Subscription Terms in traditional license-based offers are only supported annually. However,
many subscriptions in NCE support more terms, namely monthly, annual, and triennial (three-year term),
and more Billing Plans (monthly, annual, or upfront).
Note: Users who opt for a Monthly Subscription Term will incur a 20% increase in pricing from the Annual Subscription price, which applies to all Microsoft CSP licensing.
Key differences between Traditional and New Commerce:
New Commerce Experience includes new capabilities and flexibility in how CSP partners transact and manage their subscriptions.
Note: Users who opt for a Monthly Subscription Term will incur a 20% increase in pricing from the Annual Subscription price, which applies to all Microsoft CSP licensing.
NCE Ready Proven Reseller Commerce Platform for CSPs?
The most concerning question for Microsoft CSPs is how their billing scenarios against disparate customers can be managed and quickly adapt the New Commerce Experience journey through a centralized platform. This is where the Hybr® Reseller Commerce Platform comes into the picture.
Hybr® is a white-labeled Reseller Commerce Platform that enables you to integrate with your Microsoft Partner Center portal account to deliver a self-service provisioning/ purchasing experience for your customers with seamless billing. Hybr is already equipped with sophisticated billing rules and automation capabilities. Any new billing challenges arising out of the new NCE implementation should be supported and will not be a cause of concern for any Microsoft CSPs powered by Hybr® Reseller Commerce Platform.
Major NCE CSP Features in Hybr® Reseller Commerce Platform:
We (Cloud Assert) are committed to understanding the unique needs of the CSPs' business while at the same time remaining compliant with pricing and regulatory changes made by Microsoft. This allows us to help you offer your end customers the most competitive and hassle-free centralized portal experience for Microsoft cloud services with rich management and billing.
Now, what are you waiting for? Start maximizing your Cloud Service Business with the industry-leading CSP Reseller Commerce platform.
